CONSERVATION AND REPLENISHMENT DEPARTMENT

The Conservation and Replenishment Department is tasked with the
management and replenishment of the public oyster grounds in Virginia.
The Department Chief with the assistance of an Advisory Committee
develops strategies to improve and restore the public oyster grounds.
Restoration activities include the spreading of cultch as oyster
setting substrate, rejuvenation of old oyster beds using dredges,
creation of oyster reefs for optimal oyster habitat, and the movement
of oysters from seed areas to grow-out areas. The Department systematically
and scientifically monitors all the restoration activities to
determine their success.

Management strategies are developed and regulations promulgated
to conserve the oyster resources using season and time limits,
catch limits, and gear restrictions. Conservation and Replenishment
personnel also coordinate all shellfish relaying information to
ensure compliance with the Code of Virginia and FDA guidelines
for handling shellfish taken from condemned shellfish areas.

In general because of the need to protect vulnerable shellfish resources
and to protect public heath the licensing and permitting related to shellfish
harvest is relatively complex. Please use the web resources below to gain
an understanding of shellfish actiivties managed by the Commission, but if you
are new to shellfish fisheries in Viriginia tidal waters you may want to
consider contacting Commission staff directly to get an overview of licensing,
permitting, harvesting, and harvest reporting requirements. Interested
parties can contact the Conservation and Replenishment Department at (757)
247-2120. MRC Field Office personnel can also often answer questions
regarding shellfishing in their geographic area, click on the link to get
field office hours and contact information.
The
Virginia Department of Health, Department of Shellfish Sanitation also has
an important role in shellfish harvest, click on the web link to learn more
about their programs.

Manual for Remote Setting - This project and the manual was funded by the Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program,
www.vims.edu/adv/frg. It was conducted in cooperation with 10 Virginia seafood companies and in conjunction with private industry which provided realistic expectations and estimates of expenses.

The video clips below demonstrate a way for watermen in the MRC Blue Crab Disaster
Grant program to load spat on shell bags.